Madkiwe is about 75,000 hectares, but the road network is generally quite dense, and there are usually lots of vehicles driving around to report sightings. There are some large blocks, and the very southwestern corner is not much frequented, but elsewhere there are almost too many vehicles. The total number of game viewing vehicles in Madikwe is 64, perhaps even more by now.

Madikwe is a collection of farms which were amalgamated into a game reserve. The fertile and flat areas were used for crop growing. The largest of these is now called Madikwe Plains, and when the reserve was created this area was sowed with very palatable grasses, which to this day attract lots of game. If it rains enough even the roads crossing the plains will be closed. There are plenty of alternatives, though.

Due to Madikwe's size, your choice of lodge will determine where most of your game drives will take place. Those in the western half will mainly drive on that side, and those in the eastern on the other. The two halves are more or less separated by a range of hills. The only lodge which is smack bang in the middle is Mosetlha, which affords them great flexibility when choosing where to drive. This lodge, however, is for the true bush lover, accoomodation consists of raised platforms under a roof, and they use bucket showers and donkey boilers. Madiwe Plains is in the east, by the way.

There is plenty of game in Madikwe, but it is a bit of a zoo. The lion population, for example, is about twice what it should be. Usually around 80 "hunting lions" (i.e. lions capable of catching their own food), whereas the carrying capacity is closer to 40. To keep them happy, the game population is augmented most years with whatever flavor happens to be good value. So one year they will chuck in hundreds of zebra, next year wildebeest, etc. Not exactly a natural ecosystem, but it does wonders for game viewing. Madikwe is also very good for wild dog viewing, but leopard is a lot trickier, and cheetah a real challenge.

The main downside of Madikwe is the pressure at busy times on desirable sightings, with vehicles taking stand-bys to wait their turn for a 10-minute slot. This leads to guides hiding sightings, by not reporting them on the radio, or only doing so after quite some time.

More questions? Do ask!

Johan